What’s the #1 thing you wish you knew before launching your forum?

[Shawn Gossman]

I wish I knew that forums take time to grow.

In the early days, I wanted my forums to become big boards so badly that I would never give them a chance to florish on their own. If I had kept some of my previous forums going, I feel like today, I would have some amazing big forums.

That's what I wish I knew before I started forums way back when.

How about you all? What’s the #1 thing you wish you knew before launching your forum?

 

[Heatman]

I wish I knew that it cost money to run a really successful forum.

Yeah, I know that it's possible to run a forum with using free tools but how much success can that get for you? I don't think it's much since I know better now because I used to think it's possible to do it without investing money in forum project.

 

[Shawn Gossman]

You know, I knew of a forum owner that successfully grew a very large forum using ProBoards. His members would pay to remove ads. I believe that was how that feature was setup.

But you'll definitely have to spend money in some form or fashion. I think you could use free software but you'll spend money on the hosting part at least if you want to grow.

 

[PJMC1986]

But you'll definitely have to spend money in some form or fashion. I think you could use free software but you'll spend money on the hosting part at least if you want to grow.

Free cloud hosted forums are very limited in terms of addons. If you want an all singing, all dancing forum then it needs to be self hosted to unlock the potential.

 

[Shawn Gossman]

Free cloud hosted forums are very limited in terms of addons. If you want an all singing, all dancing forum then it needs to be self hosted to unlock the potential.

For sure.

Anything you want to be more yours with more control has to be self-hosted.